Report by Sani Sulaiman; Editing by Basirat Memudu
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged traditional leaders to support the Renewed Hope Initiative by raising awareness of ongoing health programs across the country.
Mrs Tinubu made the plea in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, during an engagement with traditional rulers on Thursday, held at the conference hall of the wife of the Governor’s office.
The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu who arrived at the Danbaba Suntai Airport on Thursday noon, was received by Governor Agbu Kefas and his wife, Mrs Agyin Kefas alongside top government officials, as well as a large number of supporters of both the ruling PDP in the state and the major opposition party, the APC.
Mrs. Tinubu was in Taraba State for a two-day working visit, accompanied by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, and the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina among others.
Her visit also aimed to encourage frontline health workers by providing incentives and recognizing their efforts, as well as to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, especially mother-to-child transmission, which remains high.
Speaking during her engagement with traditional leaders, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said partnering with the royal fathers will help the federal government to spread the message about the availability and free treatment for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, highlighting their important role in grassroots mobilization.
Responding, the Taraba State Chairman of the Council of Chiefs and the Aku Uka of Wukari, HRM Manu Ishaku Adda Ali, described the visit of Mrs Tinubu as a blessing to the state.
However, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, shortly after meeting with the traditional leaders, proceeded to the Jolly Nyame Stadium, where she inaugurated the distribution of professional kits for midwives across the Northeast region.
In her speech, she also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to health interventions aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality across the nation.
In his address, Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, said in the Northeast alone, 8,500 frontline health workers have been trained, out of which 1,300 are from Taraba State.
According to him, over 1,000 health facilities receive quarterly funding from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, including 170 in the state.
Governor Agbu Kefas appreciated the wife of the President for the gesture, saying that the state shared in the vision of the Renewed Hope Initiative as it aligned with his administration’s five-finger development agenda.
On her part, the wife of the Governor, Mrs Agyin Kefas, also expressed appreciation for the interventions and commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for his commitment.
Meanwhile, Senator Oluremi Tinubu presented 10,000 professional kits to midwives across the six Northeast states and handed over a cheque of ₦50 million to support the empowerment of 1,000 women in Taraba State.
